A Lehigh Street sinkhole that's 12 feet wide and as many feet deep is causing a traffic "nightmare" in south Allentown and might leave a section of one of the city's busiest streets closed for an extended period, police said.

The sinkhole opened around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in one of the northbound lanes in the street's 2200 block, leading to drooping across all five lanes, police Capt. Bill Reinik said.

"We can't take a chance of anyone driving over it and opening it up," he said.

He said the sinkhole did not cause any crashes, but led to a major traffic mess. Lehigh Street was closed between Downyflake Lane and Vultee Street and traffic was detoured onto side roads, but that didn't ease the crush.

To help relieve some of the traffic, Norfolk Southern was asked to discontinue train service temporarily, he said. The tracks run parallel to Lehigh Street through many of the side streets being used as detours.

A section of Lehigh Street in Allentown was closed due to a 12-foot wide sinkhole

(MICHAEL KUBEL \ THE MORNING CALL)

"It's a nightmare here," Reinik said. "There is no let-up."

A water main break caused the sinkhole, Reinik said, and the Lehigh County Authority was making repairs. Though the sinkhole is in one traffic lane, repair crews noted drooping on the street, which will likely lead to an extended closure, Reinik said.

Reinik said the street will likely be closed into Wednesday and possibly longer. Drivers were being detoured onto 12th Street and Mack Boulevard on Tuesday, but more detours will be added overnight, Reinik said.